Folding mechanism for envelop-machines.



No. 821,529. I I

- B. PAHLITZSGHm FOLDING MBGHANISM FOR BNVELOP MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYB. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

4 TTOP/VEMS PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

No. 821,529. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

B. PAHLITZSOH.

FOLDING MEGHANISMFOR ENVELOP MACHINES.

APPLICATION-FILED MAY 9, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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BRUNO PAHLITZSOH, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGJMENTS, TOUNITED STATES ENVELOPE COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lc'atented may 22, 1906.

Application filed y 9,1903. Serial llo. 156,473.

I To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BRUNO PAnLrrzsoi-r, a manufacturer, a subject of theKing of Saxony, residing at 13 Simeonstrasse, Berlin, Germany, haveinvented a certain new and useful Folding Mechanism forEnvelop-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates generally to machines for folding the flapportions of previously-cut envelop-blanks, and the particu-' larimprovement now sought to be protected has to do more especially withthe flap-folders of such machines. 1

One purpose of the invention is to provide a novel and simpleconstruction of flap-folder that can-be easily and quickly adjustedrelatively to its companion folders and the baseplate of the machine,whereby to provide for the making of envelops of various sizes.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedconstruction of flap-folder that can be readily expanded or contractedwidthwise, so as to adapt it to the making of various-sized envelops.

Another and important feature of the invention resides in providingaflap-folder with an auxiliary yieldable pressing element located at thebase or hinged end thereof, said element operating slightly in advanceof the working face of the folder and constructed to engage, press, andcrease the envelopflap along the folding-line just prior to the actionof the folder proper, means being provided for causing the auxiliarypressing element to move slightly forward during the downward swingingmovement of the flapfolder, whereby to prevent what is known asbackdrawing of the envelop -blank, and thus insuring a smooth andperfect fold.

A still further purpose of the invention resides in constructing aflap-folder embodying a fixed and a movable member hinged together, theunder or base surface of said movablemember that comes into contact withthe base-plate on which the envelop-blank is laid being level withthe'under or base surface of the fixed member of the folder, so thatthese surfaces, as also that of the folding-base, when in the operativeposition all lie in the same plane. By this means it is possible toemploy a folding base-plate of a size correspending to the largestenvelop for folding envelops of a considerably smaller size.

To these and other ends the invention resides in the features ofconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts here inafterdescribed in detail and then more definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a section 011 the line A B of theflap-folder shown in Fig. l, the said flap being shown in a posi tion atright angles to the base-plate. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line CD of Fig. 4, the movable member of the flap-folder being shown in itsoperative position. Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1, the movable mnber of the folder being shown in its operai". e position lying upon thesurface of the baseplate. Fig. 4 is a view looking at the under orworking face of the movable member of the flap-folder shown in Fig. 1;and Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a part of the base-frame of anenvelop-machine, showing the flap-folders in operative position.

lteferring to the drawings, the referencenumeral 18 designates a part ofthe frame of an envelop-machine which bounds the opening 19, wherein issituated the usual baseplate 20,upon which the envelop-blanks to befolded are placed. This base-plate 20 is of the ordinary drop type,pivoted at one end and adapted to swing downward to permit the completedenvelop to slide tierefrom to a suitable table or like receiver. (Notshown.)

As has been previously stated, the prime object of the present inventionis to provide an. envelop-machine with novel flap-folders that areadjustably mounted relatively to each other, so as to adapt the machineto the making of envelops of various sizes, and these flap -folderscooperate with the base-plate 20, whatever may be their position ofadjustment, it being understood that the same base plate employed inmaking large envelops is also used when the flap-folders are adjusted todo small work.

The flap-folders have a hinged connection with the frame 18 around theopening 19 and are mounted to swing toward and from and into and out ofcontact with the base-plate 20 during the folding operation. folders aresubstantially alike in construc- As all the fiap.-..

tion, a detailed description of one will sufiice for all.

Each flap-folder as a whole comprises two stationary members f and amovable member e. The stationary members are in the form of hinge-blocksand are adjustably connected at one end to the frame 18 by means ofscrew-bolts 21, which pass through openings or slots f formed in saidend, and in corresponding openings or slots 7, formed in the frame 18,all as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The slots f in theblocks f permit its flap-folder to be moved toward and from theflap-folder situated directly opposite, and the slotsf permit one of theblocks f to be moved nearer to orfarther from its companion block as isnecessary when the flapfolder c is adjusted widthwise, as will presentlyappear. The forward portion of each hinge-block is bifurcated, as atfand is provided with an enlargement in which is formed a transverseopening through which a rockshaft 7 freely passes. The extreme front endof each hinge-block f is formed with an angular extension 9 at the base,the front wall of which curves upward and backward to provide a cam oreccentric face g, for a purpose presently to appear.

The movable member of each flap-folder consists of two substantiallytriangularshaped plates a and I), each having an upwardly and rearwardlyextending wall 6 at its base or rear end, the under face of said wallbeing curved, as shown, and the said rear end of each plate is rabbeted,as at 6 Figs. 1 and 3, for a purpose presently to appear. Extendingoutward and downward from each wall a is an eye member 6 which islocated between the bifurcated end of the block f and through which theshaft 1 passes, the said plates (1 and I) being each fixed to said shaftby means of a set-screw j, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of thedrawings. By this construction it will be seen that the rear or hingedend of the plates a and I) stand away from the front end of thestationary members f of the folders, leaving a space between the saidstationary and movable members, and located in this space between eachpair of said members is an auxil- 'iary yieldably-mounted presserelement in the form of a block h. These blocks are each attached to oneend of a fiat blade-spring 7c, the opposite end of the spring beingsecured to the upwardly and rearwardly extending wall 6 by means of ascrew i. The springs 7c are arched or bowed, as shown, and follow thecurved under face of the wall 6, the tendency of the springs being todraw the blocks into contact with the eccentric face g at the end of thestationary member As will be seen by referrin to Fig. 1 of the drawings,the under face 0 each yieldable presserblock h extends slightly inadvance of the working face of the folder-plates a and b when saidplates are in an upright position, and when they are moved downwardthrough rocking movement of the shaft 1' said blocks continue to move inadvance of the working face of the plates at and b, and consequentlyengage the flaps of the envelop-blank to be folded just prior to theaction of the folder. During downward movement of the flapfolders thesaid yieldable blocks h ride over the said eccentric faces g, and as thefolders approach the limit of their downward movement the blocks arepushed slightly forward by the said eccentric faces, and this has a,

tendency to also push the flap of the envelopblank slightly forward,thus preventing backdrawing of the paper and insuring a smooth andperfect fold.

Each flap-holder may consist of the two triangular plates a and I)alone, as when they are used upon small envelops; but for large envelopsthese plates are separated and extension or filling pieces cl areinterposed between them, one, two, or more of such fillingpieces beingemployed, the number depending of course upon the size of the envelopbeing made. These filling-pieces extend to a point slightly beyond theshaft 1 and are grooved out, as shown, to partially surround the shaft.A slotted bar m is secured at its opposite ends by screws n to the topface of the plates a and b, and attaching-screws 0 pass through theslots in said bar m and enter the filling-pieces d, whereby they areattached firmly in position and form a part of the flapfolder. It willbe apparent that the fiap folders are thus adjustable lengthwise andthat their width may be varied without removing the plates a and b fromthe shaft 1". i/Vhen adjusting the folders widthwise, theattaching-screws 21, which pass through the stationary elements orhinge-blocks f, are moved in the slots f formed in the frame 18, thelower ends of said screws each being in threaded engagement with a block18 that slides in a grooved way formed in the under side of theframe 18,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that thebottom face of each hinge-block f is on a level with the upper surfaceof the base-plate 20 and that the working face of the flap-folder isalso in the same plane. Hence it will be apparent that the said blocksmay be adjusted forward so as to overhang the marginal edge of thebaseplate 20, which would be the case when mak ing small envelops, andthe same base-plate used for making large envelops may thus be employedwhen the flap-foldersare adjusted for the making of small envelops.

In addition to the function performed by the angular extension 9 on thehinge-blocks f, as already described, said extensions in themselvesserve to prevent backdrawing of the flaps of the envelop-blankduring'the folding gin 1 a.

operation. This is due to the fact that the under face of each extensiong lies in substantially the same plane as the upper face of thebase-plate 20, these faces of the extensions being in contact with thesaid upper face of the base;plate'during the folding operation, 1 and asthey are arranged on all sides of the base-plate the vertical walls ofoppositely arranged angular extensions 9 form stops or ters Patent, is

1. In an envelop-machine, the combination with the movable base-plate,of pairs of hinge-blocks arranged at opposite sides of the base-plateand adjustable over the face thereof, a rock-shaft journaled in eachpair of hinge-blocks, a flap-folder secured to each shaft and movableinto and out of contact with the base-plate, and a yieldable resserelement supported from each flap-fol er and located at the base endthereof.

2. In an envelop-machine, the combination with the base-plate, of aflap-folder having its under face movable to and fromthe upper face ofthe base-plate, means for adjusting the fla -folder toward and from thecenter of the fiase-plate, a movable presser element carried by the baseend of the flapfolder, and means for yieldably supporting said presserelement. i

3. In an envelop-machine, the. combination with the base-plate, of ahinge-block having its under side lying in the plane of the base-plateand adjustable over the face thereof, an angular boss on the inner endof the hinge-block, a rock-shaft journaled in said block, a flap-foldersecured to said shaft and movable toward and from the base-plate, and afreely-movable presser element supported from the flap-folder andinterposed between the base end thereof and the said angular boss.

4. In an envelop-machine, the combination with the baseplate, of ahinge-block hav ing its under face lying in the plane of said plate andadjustable over the face thereof, a rock-shaft journaled in said block,a flapfolder secured to said shaft and movable toward and from thebase-plate, and a freelymovable presser element supported from theflap-folder and located at the base end thereof.

5. In an envelop-machine, the combination with' the baseplate, of arock-shaft located above the plane of said plate and adjustable towardand from the center thereof, a flap-folder secured to said rock-shaft, afreelymovable presser element located at the base end of saidflap-folder, and means for supporting said presser element. 1

.6. In an envelop-machine, the combination with the base-plate, of arock-shaft located above the plane of said plate and adjustable towardand from the center thereof, a flap-folder secured to said rock-shaftand adapted to make facial contact with the upper face of thebase-plate, a freely-movable presser element located at the base end ofsaid flap-folder, and yieldable means carried by the flap-folder forsupporting said presser element.

7. In a flap-folder for envelop-machines, a fixed member, a movablemember hinged thereto, a presser element interposed between the adjacenthinged ends of said members, means for movably supporting the presserelement, and means for causing said presser element to move in an arcdifferen from that of the movable member during the operation of thelatter.

8. In a flap-folder for envelop-machines, a fixed member, a movablemember hinged thereto, a yieldable presser element interposed betweenthe adjacent hinged ends of said members, means carried by the movablemember for supporting the presser element and means for causing saidpresser element to move in an are different from that of the movablemember during operation of the latter.

9. In a flap-folder for envelop-machines, a fixed member having acam-face at one end, a movable member hinged to said fixed member, apresser element interposed between the adjacent hinged ends of saidmembers, and means for movably supporting the presser element wherebythe latter will be free to ride over the said cam-face on the fixedmember during the downward movement of the movable member.

10. A flap-folder for envelop-machines comprising a folder member havinga yieldable presser element located at the base end thereof, saidelement having a pressing-face normally situated slightly in advance ofthe under face of the said folder member.

11. In an envelop-machine, the combination with the movable base-plate,of an adjustahle block having an angular extension at the front endthereof, the under face of said extension lying in surface contact withthe upper face of the base-plate when the latter IS in normal positionand adjustable thereover, and the vertical wall of said angularextension constituting a stop or abutment for a folded edge of anenvelop-blank,

IIO

and a swinging flap-folder movable toward tion with the movablebaseplate, of an adjustable block having an angular extension at thefront end thereof, the under face of said extension lying insubstantially the plane of the upper face of the base-plate when thelatter is in normal position and adjustable thereover, and the verticalwall of said angular extension constituting a stop or abutment for afolded edge of an envelopblank, and a swinging flap-folder movabletoward and from the base-plate and over the said angular extension.

13. In an envelop-machine, the combination with the movable base-plate,of an adhaving a freely-movable presser element located at the base endthereof and provided with a presserface normally situated slightly inadvance of the under face of said folder, means for freely supportingsaid presser element, and means for causing the element to move bodilyin the direction of length of the folder, during downward movementthereof.

15. A flap-folder comprising a folder member having a freely movablepresser element located at the base end thereof and proewes vided with apresser-face normally situated slightly in advance of the under face ofsaid folder member, and means for freely supporting said presser elementwhereby it may have a movement bodily in the direction of length of thefolder.

16. A widthwise-adjustable flap-folder for envelop-machines, comprisingtwo end plates, filling-pieces interposed between the adj acent edges ofsaid plates, a bar attached at its oppositelends to said plates, andmeans for attaching said filling-pieces to the bar.

17. In a flap-folder for envelop-machines,

a pair of hinge-blocks, a folder-plate hinged to each block, a removablefilling-piece interposed between the adjacent edges of said plates, anda bar secured to said plates and said filling-piece.

18. In a flap-folder for envelop-machines, a pair of hinge-blocks, ashaft passing freely therethrough, a pair of folder-plates each securedat one end to said shaft, a removable spacer interposed between theadjacent edges of said plates, said spacer being grooved transversely atits rear end and partially embracing ,the said-shaft, and means forremovably attaching the spacer to the folder-plates.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

BRUNO PAHLITZSCH.

Witnesses WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER.

